Morning of Chinatown Main Street Festival

Grace had a dim sum craving so this morning it was first things first. Of course because the festival was going on there was no parking on the street available. There was also some sort of 10k race or run going on as well. After Dim sim we walked through the streets a little bit. Noah used to get very excited about being able to walk in the street where the cars usually go. The feeling is just different.
We bumped into a lot of freiends, went by Gund Kwok's table (Grace's old team) They had games and prizes. That was cool. But then in their boredom the children started fighting to the point where Noah pushed Jonah and they went to the ground with Jonah's head banging into the glass door over by the corner. A childhood reenactment of what a Chinatown night could be like.

"I want Chocolate Caaake!!!!" Jonah bawled through tears from hitting his head. Every time Jonah is uncomfortable, tired, or, apparently, injured, he makes a crying plea for this one thing as if it will solve his problem.

"We just finished dim sum, you can't be hungry. And if you are, mommy just got baos."

I had been saying for a while as we congregated on the street that I was going to bring them to the BCNC playground, and when dai dai's head hit the door, I actually started moving in that direction despite initial protest.

They hung out and fed sparrows at the playground for a while. I found a bathroom and a water fountain and also returned some things to the car (near Hei La Moon on the other side of Chinatown) and also got the home made flat faced lion head I had left there.

It looked like the performances were starting and I went down to see if, Wong Keurng (I know them from working with them through the Federation) was performing. They weren't up yet. But of course as I was walking away I heard the switch in drum beat to their dragon beats, and knew that me and the kids would not possibly get over there in time to watch. That was too bad, especially since they were doing the dragon. But to make the overall day smooth, with kids, you have to take it easy. Don't force something that is difficult. By the time we got there sprinting and carrying them it would probably have been the next group's turn anyway and the possibility of a melt down (from having missed something) could have ensued.

 
 Besides the kids were happy where they were, in the shade, feeding sparrows. We then said we would do a simulation lion dance. I.e. the kids would dance through the streets and if drums happened to play from the stage as background, all the better. And then we would all head back to the car and Grace would leave with Jonah.

They danced and switched and some freinds and strangers took some pictures. And the CCBA drumming group began on stage too, which was great. I tend to think those beats kind of match the flat faced head better anyway, especially the way Jonah shakes it. We got there and watched there performance. The kids actually wanted to listen to the political speakers. But eventually we headed out and Noah ended up also returning home with Grace.

So the rest of the day and the two Lion Dance and performances left that I would be a part of, For Woo Ching White Crane and for the Federation (which is Woo Ching and Wong Keurng together)  I would be free to more actively participate in. Plus all teh socializing involved in that.

By kids!